ZEN GUERRILLA (1989-2003)
American rock band Zen Guerilla was first called the Gollywogs, formed in the late 1980s in Newark, Delaware. They gigged constantly around the tri-state area for a couple of years, playing house shows, rented halls and campus venues, before making the move up to Philadelphia. Punk house life in North Philly allowed them to save just enough ($3,000) to record their first full-length LP for Compulsiv Records, the label of Bryan Dilworth (a fellow legendary Delaware expat in Philadelphia).
By 1994, Zen Guerrilla had migrated to liberal rocker town San Francisco, where they released a slew of singles, notable for their high-gritty fusion of blues, garage rock, and soul– as well as singer Marc Durant’s retro futuristic cover art. The group drew the attention of Jello Biafra, who released their next full length on his label Alternative Tentacles in 1998.
Before long, Zen Guerrilla signed to Sub Pop Records, while also releasing singles on Estrus and Epitaph. Their intensive touring with bands such as Hellacopters and Supersuckers made them a household name in underground rock. Even after the demise of the group in 2003, everyone in the band continues to play music, with Marcus fronting MC50 tour featuring Wayne Kramer, and Andy and Rich releasing many albums as members of Carlton Melton.
Members: Andy Duvall, Carl Horne, Marcus Durant, Rich Millman
Past members: Daniel McMullen (keyboard 1990-1992), Pete Martin (drums 1989-1990)
Links:
- ZEN GUERRILLA shows on Delaware Music History Archive map
- Interview: Zen Guerrilla, Big Shout Magazine, September 1991, by Gregg Kirk
- Zen Guerrilla: An interview with vocalist Marcus Durant, Lollipop Magazine
- Sub Pop bio
- Wikipedia bio
- Zen Guerrilla live videos, BLexp YouTube channel
- Listen to ZG out of print releases on Freedom Has No Bounds site
Releases
List of releases: Discogs
- Get It 7" (Insect 1991)
- Vamp 7" (Insect 1992)
- Pull 7" (Union Hall 1993)
- Zen Guerrilla CD (Compulsiv Music 1993)
- Crow 7" (Union Hall 1994)
- Zen Guerrilla / Caterpillar – Creature Double Feature LP (Dead Beat 1995)
- Invisible "Liftee" Pad CDEP (Insect 1996)
- Gap-Tooth Clown CDEP (Insect 1997)
- Trouble Shake 7" (Alternative Tentacles 1997)
- Positronic Raygun (Alternative Tentacles 1998)
- Mama's Little Rocket 5" (Allied 1998)
- Trance States In Tongues (Sub Pop 1999)
- Ghetto City Version / Hungry Wolf 7" (Epitaph 2000)
- Dirty Mile / Ham And Eggs 7" (Estrus 2000)
- Bob Log III / Zen Guerrilla – Wigglin' Room / Pocketful Of String 7" (Fanboy 2000)
- The Seeker / Half Step 7" (Sub Pop 2000)
- Mob Rules 7" (Safety Pin Records 2000)
- Shadows On The Sun (Sub Pop 2001)
- Plasmic Tears And The Invisible City (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD, Mini-Album) (Insect 2001)
- Heavy Mellow! 12" EP picture disc (Flapping Jet 2002)
Photos
Courtesy of Dean Miles from show at EJ's in Portland, Oregon
the rest courtesy of Andy Duvall
